Heat exchanger with integrated drier and plate for a plate heat exchanger

ABSTRACT

A heat exchanger comprising a dryer and a water-cooled condenser, the condenser comprising a plurality of plates and two end plates, wherein the dryer is integrated in the condenser, the plates have an opening, the opening being designed such that when a plurality of plates are arranged side by side, the openings in the plates form a cavity, and/or at least one of the end plates has a cavity, wherein the cavity is suitable for receiving a dryer and/or a drying agent.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a United States national phase patent application based on PCT/KR2020/017357 filed on Dec. 1, 2020, which claims the benefit of German Patent Application No. 10 2019 132 955.8 filed on Dec. 4, 2019, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger comprising a dryer and a water-cooled condenser, the condenser comprising a plurality of plates and two end plates, possibly with an integrated receiver.

The invention further relates to a plate for a plate heat exchanger having an opening, and its use.

BACKGROUND ART

Plate heat exchangers (plate recuperators) are a special design of a heat exchanger which consist of plates which are assembled in such a way that the medium to be heated up and then the heat-emitting medium flows in the successive interspaces in each case. The plate pack is sealed to the outside and between the media.

Nowadays, water-cooled condensers are fabricated in a plate-plate or plate-lamellar design. Due to the design of water-cooled condensers, drying agent is introduced and stored in a separate external refrigerant collector dryer container.

In known condensers, these external collector dryer containers are arranged outside the condenser, as a receiving/drying bottle.

FR3001795 B1 discloses a plate heat exchanger for an air conditioning circuit in which a plurality of plates that are arranged between two end plates, are interconnected. The plate heat exchanger has a cylindrical collector dryer which is arranged (externally) on one of the two end plates, as shown in FIG. 1.

A dryer that is arranged externally on one of the end plates has the disadvantage that the dimensions of the water-cooled condenser assembly are enlarged. In addition, when using a receiver dryer bottle, as a dryer, connecting pipes or a connecting block are/is required. In addition, screw-on receiver drier bottles sometimes require an additional assembly process.

SUMMARY

The object of the invention is to provide a heat exchanger, which has smaller dimensions and is inexpensive to manufacture.

The object of the present invention is achieved by a plate heat exchanger of the afore-mentioned type in which the collector dryer is integrated in the condenser, the plates have an opening, wherein the opening is designed such that when a plurality of plates are arranged side by side, the openings in the plates form a cavity, and/or at least one of the end plates has a cavity, wherein the cavity is suitable for receiving a dryer and/or a drying agent. Such an embodiment, in which the collector dryer or the receiver dryer bottle is arranged in the inner part of the condenser, has a comparatively smaller dimension of the condenser, which is particularly advantageous when installing the heat exchanger in a motor vehicle.

In addition, in an embodiment in which the collector dryer is arranged in the inner part of the condenser, the manufacture of the heat exchanger is simplified and the costs of the heat dryer are thus also reduced.

Another advantage of such an embodiment is that the dimensions turn out to be smaller compared to a design in which a receiver dryer bottle is attached externally to the condenser. In addition, additional components such as connecting pipes or a connecting block with which the receiver dryer bottle is connected to the condenser can be dispensed with.

The inner part of the condenser is preferably formed by brazing, such as, for example, vacuum brazing, in a plate-plate or plate- (cooling) fin configuration, wherein the condenser has refrigerant-carrying layers (refrigerant channels) and water-carrying layers (water channels).

The dryer preferably has at least one dryer opening, wherein the at least one dryer opening is designed such that the dryer opening is connected to the refrigerant-carrying layer or one or more of the refrigerant channels so that refrigerant can be channeled into the dryer. This allows the refrigerant to flow through the drying agent arranged in the cavity, or to be in material contact with said drying agent and to bind the liquid. A flow-through through the drying agent is not necessary, an opening as a means for diffusion is enough. The drying agent attracts the moisture, wherein in this case water from the heat-receiving or heat-emitting medium does not flow through the dryer. For this purpose, the cavity formed by the plates is connected to the refrigerant filled space of the condenser via the at least one dryer opening.

The at least one dryer opening is preferably arranged in one or more of the refrigerant-carrying layers of the condenser, or connected to one or more of the refrigerant channels.

The dryer is preferably (reversibly) closable by a filter closure which comprises a filter having a sealing ring. Such a design allows the introduction or replacement of the drying agent located in the cavity/dryer.

The opening in the plate is preferably located in the middle of the plate surface formed by the plate. However, embodiments of the plate are also conceivable in which the opening is not located in the middle of the plate.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention in which at least one of the end plates has a cavity, the cavity is connected to the refrigerant circuit by a coupling block. Such an embodiment has a narrow design, which enables the dryer to be replaced quickly by changing an end plate.

The coupling block is preferably connected to the end plate via a flange, wherein a sealing ring is suitably arranged between the flange and the end plate. For this purpose, the sealing concepts known in the vehicle industry, such as single, double O-ring and metal seal fitting, are used.

Furthermore, the object of the present invention is achieved by a plate for a plate heat exchanger having an opening, the opening being designed such that when a plurality of plates are arranged side by side, the openings in the plates form a cavity.

Furthermore, the object of the present invention is achieved by using a plate according to the invention in a condenser of a plate heat exchanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further details, features and advantages of configurations of the invention emerge from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the associated figures. Specifically:

FIG. 1 shows a plate heat exchanger for an air conditioning circuit with an external collector dryer, as is known from the prior art,

FIG. 2 shows a plate according to the invention having a round opening,

FIG. 3 shows a plate according to the invention having an oval opening,

FIGS. 4A-C show a plate according to the invention and a cavity/dryer formed by layering the plates,

FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a cavity/dryer arranged in the inner part of a condenser,

FIGS. 6A-H show schematic illustrations of a cross section through water-cooled condensers with an integrated dryer,

FIGS. 7A-C show schematic illustrations of water-cooled condensers with an integrated dryer, and

FIG. 8 shows a cross section through a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a plate heat exchanger 1, as known from the prior art, with an externally arranged receiver drier bottle as a receiver-refrigerant collector bottle/dryer container 2.

The plate heat exchanger 1 comprises a condenser 3, which is formed by a plurality of plates 4 and two end plates 5. Openings 7 are arranged at the corners of the plates 5 for introducing and discharging the water and the refrigerant, respectively.

The receiver dryer bottle 2 is connected to the condenser 3 on the refrigerant side via a connecting block 6 or connecting pipes.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show plates 8 having an opening 9 which is designed such that when a plurality of plates 8 are arranged side by side or one above the other, the openings 9 form a cavity which can be filled with a dryer 10 and a drying agent 11 in a drying agent bag, and thus serves as a collector dryer 10 for the condenser 12.

In the embodiment of the plate 8 shown in FIG. 2, the opening 9 is round and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 it is oval. The opening 9, however, can also have another shape, for example polygonal, and be located elsewhere in the plate 8.

The plates 8 have further openings 13. In a condenser 12 made from the plates 8, the refrigerant or the water flows through these openings 13.

FIG. 4A shows a three-dimensional illustration of a plate 8 having an opening 9, and four openings 13.

FIG. 4B shows a section of the plate 8 shown in FIG. 4A having the opening 9.

FIG. 4C shows several plates 8 stacked one on top the other which together form the inner part 30 of a condenser 12.

As a result of the plates 8 being stacked one on top the other, a cavity which is filled with a drying agent 11 or in which a collector dryer 10 is arranged, forms at the point where the openings 9 are located, in the middle of the condenser 12. The brazed surface 14 of the dryer 10 forms the connection between the container and the plates 8.

The dryer 10 has one or more dryer openings 15, illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show an exemplary embodiment and are described together below.

FIG. 5 shows a section of a schematic illustration of the connection between the dryer 10 and the refrigerant circuit of a water-cooled condenser 12. The dryer 10 is suitably designed as an aluminum cartridge/bottle and is connected to the plates 8 of the condenser 12 by brazing. The cartridge or bottle is suitably made of an extruded aluminum profile with a female thread and with sealing O-rings with sealing surface for plugs and filters. Such an embodiment with plugs and sealing O-rings is easy to maintain when the drying agent is exchanged. In the cavity filled with drying agent 11 is the pressure at which this cavity is connected in the plate heat exchanger.

Suitably, the drying agent 11 is introduced into the dryer 10 in a bag and the dryer 10 is then closed by the filter closure 24 according to FIGS. 6G and 6H.

The dryer 10 is constructed as a container which leads through the inner part 30 of the condenser 12 in the middle of the plates 8.

The water-cooled condenser 12 with a dryer bottle integrated in the inner part (core) 30 is made by “One Shot” brazing, so that no additional assembly step for assembling an external drier container or an external dryer bottle is required.

The refrigerant channels 16 and the water channels 17 run between the plates 8.

Through its at least one dryer opening 15, which at the same time forms an open channel 23 the dryer 10 enables refrigerant to flow through the container of the dryer 10 or to be connected to said container. The refrigerant flows through the dryer 10 or the drying agent 11, illustrated with reference numeral 21. The dryer 10, dryer container, can be connected to the refrigerant channels 16 in the condensing section 18 and/or entrance section 19 and/or subcooling section 20 via one or more dryer openings 15. However, the dryer 10 is closed to the water channels 17 (closed channel 22).

The entrance section 19 is designed as an area in the inner part 30 of the condenser 12, which means that several successive plates 8 create a space for the refrigerant.

Because the drying agent 11 is connected to the refrigerant circuit, the drying agent 11 can draw moisture from the system.

In the case of water-cooled condensers 12, it is important that the collector dryer 10 is fully integrated into the heat exchange plates 8 of the plate heat exchanger 1. Depending on the design, the integrated dryer 10 can be arranged in the subcooling section 20 (subcooling area), in the integrated receiving container or in the entrance section 19, in the last condensation plates, end plates 25, or in a combination of possible further embodiments, depending on the design and the flow pattern, in the water-cooled condenser 12.

The configuration of the heat exchanger with entrance section can be utilized for all water condenser designs with different section combinations, as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6H.

FIGS. 6A to 6H show a cross section through a water-cooled condenser 12 with an integrated dryer 10, comprising a refrigerant inlet opening 26, a refrigerant outlet opening 27, a water inlet opening 28 and water outlet opening 29.

FIG. 6A shows a cross section through a water-cooled condenser 12 with an integrated dryer 10 having a condensing section 18.

FIG. 6B shows a cross section through a water-cooled condenser 12 with a subcooling section 20.

FIG. 6C shows a cross section through a water-cooled condenser 12 with an entrance section 19.

FIG. 6D shows a cross section through a water-cooled condenser 12 with an entrance section 19 and a condensing section 18.

FIG. 6E shows a cross section through a water-cooled condenser 12 with an entrance section 19 and a subcooling section 20.

FIG. 6F shows a cross section through a water-cooled condenser 12 with a subcooling section 20 and a condensing section 18.

FIGS. 6G and 6H show a cross section through a water-cooled condenser 12 with an inner part (core) 30, comprising an entrance section 19, a subcooling section 20 and a condensing section 18. The integrated dryer 10 with the drying agent 11 is closed by a filter closure 24, comprising a plug with a filter and seal, illustrated as a block with seal 31.

The embodiment of the water-cooled condenser 12 shown in FIG. 6H has an additional inner tube 32 in which the refrigerant can bypass the subcooling section 18.

As an example, FIGS. 6G and 6H illustrate the connection to the dryer 10 (container) by points that highlight how the refrigerant is flushed through the dryer 10, namely by the refrigerant, which according to the embodiment according to FIG. 5 flows through the refrigerant channels 16, flowing through at least one dryer opening 15 through the container. The water channels 17 have no connection with the dryer 10.

The arrows drawn in FIGS. 6A to 6H show the direction of flow of the refrigerant and the water in the condenser 12.

The technology with an integrated entrance as an entrance section 19 can be used for all other plate heat exchangers 1 with an integrated collector dryer 10, which are shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C. The embodiments shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C have two water inlet openings 40, 44 and two water outlet openings 41, 45 as well as two refrigerant inlet openings 42, 46 and two refrigerant outlet openings 43, 47.

FIG. 7A shows a plate heat exchanger 1 which combines a water-cooled condenser 12 and an integrated heat exchanger 33.

FIG. 7B shows a plate heat exchanger 1 which combines a water-cooled condenser 12, an integrated heat exchanger 33 and an evaporator 34.

FIG. 7C shows a plate heat exchanger 1, which combines a water-cooled condenser 12, an integrated heat exchanger 33, an evaporator 34 and any other refrigerant and coolant heat exchanger 35.

FIG. 8 shows a cross section through a second embodiment of the invention with an inner part 30, wherein the collector dryer is integrated in an end plate 25 of a water-cooled condenser 12.

The end plate 25 has a cavity in its interior, which is used to receive the drying agent, so that the end plate 25 becomes a drying agent container which is integrated flatly and therefore space-saving in the condenser 12.

The end plate 25 does not have the full length of the remaining plates 8, rather it is shorter than the plates 8 which form the condenser 12.

The end plate 25 is connected to a coupling block 37 via a flange 36, the end plate 25 and the coupling block 37 together having the same dimensions as a plate 8, and thus are interconnected in a space-saving manner.

The coupling block 37 has an additional side exit through which the refrigerant flows. The drying agent located in the end plate 25 is in contact with at least one refrigerant channel via the coupling block 37.

For safeguarding the flange 36 and the coupling block 37 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated are screwed together by bolts with thread and nut 38. For sealing there is a seal 39 between flange 36 and coupling block 37.

This type of opening can also be utilized as a section for heating/cooling an electronic component which is inserted into the cavity. This technology can also be used for water/water or water/oil or water/air or multi-fluid heat exchangers (more than two).

The invention relates to a plate heat exchanger comprising a dryer and a water-cooled condenser, the condenser comprising a plurality of plates and two end plates, possibly with an integrated receiver.

The invention further relates to a plate for a plate heat exchanger having an opening, and its use. 

1-11. (canceled)
 12. A heat exchanger comprising: a dryer and a water-cooled condenser, the condenser further comprising a plurality of plates and two end plates, wherein the dryer is integrated in the condenser, the plates each have an opening, wherein when the plates are arranged side by side, the opening in the plates form a cavity, and/or at least one of the end plates has a cavity, wherein the cavity is suitable for receiving a dryer and/or a drying agent.
 13. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein an inner part of the condenser is formed by brazing in a plate-plate or plate (cooling) fin configuration, wherein the condenser has refrigerant-carrying layers and water-carrying layers.
 14. The heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein the dryer has at least one dryer opening, wherein the dryer opening is connected to the refrigerant-carrying layers.
 15. The heat exchanger according to claim 14, wherein the at least one dryer opening is arranged in one or more of the refrigerant-carrying layers of the condenser.
 16. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the dryer is closable by a filter closure.
 17. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein the opening in the plates is located in a middle of a surface formed by each of the plates.
 18. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein when at least one of the end plates has a cavity, the cavity of the at least one of the end plates is connected to a refrigerant circuit by a coupling block.
 19. The heat exchanger according to claim 18, wherein the coupling block is connected to the at least one of the end plates via a flange.
 20. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein an electronic component for heating or cooling is arranged in the opening in the plates.
 21. A plate for a plate heat exchanger having an opening, wherein the opening is designed such that when a plurality of the plates are arranged side by side, the openings in the plates form a cavity.
 22. A use of the plate according to claim 21 in the heat exchanger. 